MORE Caithness mothers-to-be will have to give birth in Inverness following a staffing crisis at Caithness General Hospital. That emerged yesterday, after it was confirmed a shortage of consultant staff – caused by the sudden death of a locum – could result in the Wick maternity unit moving to “daytime obstetric and gynaecology services”. The out-of-hours maternity services would be affected, although NHS Highland is considering what could be put in place to help the midwives and obstetricians. It is looking at support from obstetricians at Raigmore Hospital and surgical and anaesthetic services in Caithness.

CAMPAIGNERS were stunned when they were refused permission to hear a discussion about whether a public vote would be held to gauge the community’s views on a major wind farm development. Spittal Hill Opposition Group chairman, John Brown, was “flabbergasted” by Watten Community Council’s decision to hold a meeting about the proposed seven-turbine Spittal Hill wind farm, in private. The group attended the meeting at Watten Hall on Monday night looking for a commitment from the community council that a ballot would be held to get the public’s views regarding the development.

PLANS have been unveiled for a new memorial to commemorate two Thurso men who won the Victoria Cross. Alexander Glasgow, who has an academic interest in military history, feels it is time for the men to have a proper space to remember them, after an original memorial bench was removed and a plaque reset during work on Victoria Walk. He visualises a piece of Caithness stone to replace the bench, at a suitable location in the town, standing about nine feet above the ground with the simple inscription – “Remember me when I am dead, and simplify me when I’m dead” from a poem by World War 11 poet, Keith Douglas, along with the commemoration of all present at the relevant battles.

WICK ACADEMY coach Gordon Connelly has been promoted to the managerial hot seat to help revive the Scorries’ fortunes in the Highland League. The club announced yesterday that the former Burnley, Dunfermline Athletic and Ross County players will take over from Barry Wilson at Harmsworth Park.

TWO care homes in Wick can now take in new admissions after both were judged to have met the required standards of care. Improvements carried out at the privately-run Riverside House and Seaview House homes, have persuaded the Care Inspectorate to lift the vetoes. Follow-up inspections towards the end of last year, satisfied the national body that the level of care provided at both homes was up to standard.

TWO Caithness taxi operators have dismissed a claim that local firms are poaching trade from cabbies in Inverness. Billy More, who runs Jimmy’s Taxis in Wick, hit out at the suggestion this week.

A MARINE renewable support vessel, which cost over £3 million to build, has been on a two-day operational working visit to Gills Harbour. The C Odyssey which was built in Rotterdam in Holland, in 2011, is owned by Leask Marine Ltd of Kirkwall. The 26-metre boat – described as the flagship of the firm’s six support vessels in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters – can carry out a variety of tasks.

A MAJOR campaign to overturn the hugely controversial axing of the Highlands’ fire and police 999 command rooms, has kicked off and it could end up in court. Highland Council’s opposition group has joined forces with local authorities across the north of Scotland including the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland to fight the closures of the region’s emergency call-handling bases in Inverness which sparked an outcry last month.

A WASTE boss has warned that Highland Council would be vulnerable to prosecuting if staff turned a blind eye to sole traders dumping rubbish at its recycling centres. The local authority has agreed to run a pilot assessing how it can identify and stop firms trying to deposit commercial waste.